Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Jackson?

Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.

How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Jackson?

To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $33,000 in Jackson.

Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Jackson?

Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Huntington vs Jackson Cost of Living 2026

Huntington

West Virginia

$940/mo est.

Jackson

Mississippi

$1,000/mo est.

Monthly estimate = 1BR rent + electricity + gas

A one-person monthly baseline (1BR rent plus typical utilities) runs $940 in Huntington, WV versus $1,000 in Jackson, MS. Overall, Huntington, WV is roughly 6% cheaper to live in day-to-day than Jackson, MS, driven mainly by rent.

Median household income is $43,146 in Huntington, WV and $43,238 in Jackson, MS. West Virginia has a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax; Mississippi has a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax.

Huntington, WV

Jackson, MS

Rent

Studio

$762

$1,085

+42% in Jackson, MS

1 Bedroom

$758

$816

+8% in Jackson, MS

2 Bedroom

$881

$991

+12% in Jackson, MS

3 Bedroom

$1,121

about equal

Buying a Home

Median Home Value

$118,800

$108,200

+9% in Huntington, WV

Income

Median Household Income

$43,146

$43,238

+0% in Jackson, MS

Metro Median Wage (annual)

$44,600

$42,850

+4% in Huntington, WV

People & Lifestyle

Median Age

34.9 yr

34.7 yr

+0.2 yr in Huntington, WV

Homeownership

52.5%

48.6%

+3.9 pp in Huntington, WV

Bachelor's+ (25+)

34.5%

28.6%

+5.9 pp in Huntington, WV

Avg Commute

18.6 min

20.2 min

+1.6 min in Jackson, MS

Crime (per 100k/yr)

Violent Crime

800.3

—

Property Crime

3,617.9

—

FBI Crime Data Explorer. Offenses per 100,000 residents per year; agency reporting practices vary, so this is approximate.

Climate

Avg Annual Temperature

55.7°F

65.3°F

+9.6°F in Jackson, MS

Annual Precipitation

42.6 in

54.3 in

+11.7 in in Jackson, MS

Gas

Regular Gasoline

$3.94/gal

$3.62/gal

+8% in Huntington, WV

Area: East Coast (PADD 1) vs Gulf Coast (PADD 3).

Utilities

Electricity (¢/kWh)

15.4

14.9

+4% in Huntington, WV

Natural Gas ($/MCF)

$24.68

$29.04

+18% in Jackson, MS

Residential, state-level averages (EIA). MCF = 1,000 cubic feet.

Groceries

Milk (gal)

$4.00

about equal

Bread (lb)

$1.75

about equal

Eggs (doz)

$2.21

about equal

Ground Beef (lb)

$6.45

about equal

Chicken (lb)

$1.90

about equal

Bananas (lb)

$0.62

about equal

Average prices — South vs South (BLS). Regional where available, otherwise U.S. average.

State Taxes

Sales Tax (WV / MS)

+1.0 pp in MS

Income Tax (top rate)

4.82%

4.00%

+0.8 pp in WV

Huntington vs Jackson — FAQ

Is it cheaper to live in Huntington or Jackson?: Huntington, WV is cheaper. Its monthly baseline of $940 (1BR rent + utilities) runs about 6% below Jackson, MS's $1,000, mainly because of rent.
How much more do you need to earn to live in Huntington than in Jackson?: To keep rent near the recommended 30% of gross income, you'd want to earn roughly $30,000 a year in Huntington versus $33,000 in Jackson.
Which has lower taxes, Huntington or Jackson?: Huntington is taxed under West Virginia's rules (a top state income tax rate of 4.82% and a 6% state sales tax); Jackson under Mississippi's (a top state income tax rate of 4.00% and a 7% state sales tax).

Sources: US Census Bureau, ACS 5-Year (rent, income, home value, demographics); NOAA Climate Normals 1981–2010 (climate); EIA weekly retail (gas); Tax Foundation 2026 (state taxes).